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Patented July 26, 193.8

UNITED STATES vwl vlc PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC LOOM Henry Downer Johnson, Jr., and Woodruff T. Sullivan, Norwich, Conn., assignors to J. B. Martin Company, Norwich, Conn., a corporation of Del- Application February 9, 1937, Serial No. 124,802

29 Claims.

The present invention relates to looms and particularly relates to automatic shuttle changing mechanisms in which the shuttles when exhausted are removed from the loom and are replaced by refilled shuttles containing a new supply of ller.

Although not restricted thereto, the present invention will be illustratively described in application to an automatic changing mechanism in which both of the replacement shuttles, as a unit, are simultaneously replaced or changed when the filler in one or both shuttles has been exhausted.

The Patent No. 2,017,065 issued October 15, 1935, on application filed November 15, 1933, describes an automatic two-shuttle or double-shuttle loom in which both shuttles are changed simultaneously without stoppage of the loom.

As a result, the fabric woven is much more uniform, since there is less change in the tension of the warp due to shrinking during the periods of stoppage and there is a substantial decrease in manufacturing costs due to speeding up of the machines.

According to one embodiment disclosed in said prior application, both of the shuttles are combined in a unitary structure taking the form of a replaceable shuttle box or carrier at one side of the lay. In said embodiment the operating and reserve replaceable box structures are held in magazines both on the lay and on the loom.

The electrical indicating mechanism positioned at the other non-change side of the lay, is controlled to close a circuit when the iiller on one or both of the shuttles was exhausted.

Upon closure of said circuit, a controlling cam was actuated to lower the operating box unit with both shuttles out of operating position to permit a new box unit to move into operating position and also to cause another box to move from the loom magazine into the lay magazine where it would serve as a reserve for the new operating unit.

In the structure shown in said patent, the box units were permitted to slide by gravity into and out of operating position and from the loom magazine to the lay magazine, preferably at the foremost position of the lay.

To control the gravity movement of the replaced box unit an elevator structure was provided which lowered such box unit to a position, where, upon the next subsequent extreme forward movement of the lay, the exhausted box unit would be ejected. Then the elevator structure would be moved back to its normal dwelling position below the new operating box unit, where it would be ready, when subsequently such box would in its turn, become exhausted.

In the structure shown in said Patent No. 2,017,065, the shuttle box changing operation would usually take place over four picks with the operation of the control cam being initiated during the return pick after one or both the shuttles had given an indication of exhaust at the nonchange side of the loom.

The operation of the control cam would continue after the shuttles have been received at the change side, causing the elevator to effect removal of the exhausted operating box, whereupon, the new reserve box would slide into operating position and its shuttles would then be thrown across the shed on the next pick.

When the lay had again moved to its beating up position, the exhausted box would be in lowered position upon the elevator structure, and would be in a location where it would be grasped by ejector ngers and dropped into an exhausted magazine structure.

Then, during the following pick, the elevator structure would be moved upward and the change would finally be completed during the following pick. As a result the control cam was in operation during substantially four picks.

It is among the objects of the present inventio to provide an alternative structure in which it will be possible to control the changing operation so that it may take place during the course of the two picks or with a two-pick control cam.

In said prior Patent No. 2,017,065, the ejector mechanism, as above described, for removing the exhausted shuttle when lowered by the elevator after shuttle change was dependent upon the lay reaching its lay front position, and it is also among the objects of the present invention to provide an alternative ejecting mechanism for the exhausted shuttle which will be immediately effective when the shuttle is lowered by the elevator without requiring that the lay again be moved to lay front position in order to assure ejection.

In the preferred embodiment of said Patent No. 2,017,065, the operating box is held in position by a pin or stop structure which limits the gravitational descent of the box unit. The elevator structure in being lowered by the control cam, rst removes said pin in its downward movement and then pauses to permit the exhausted v instances wear and moreover it was not readily possible to adjust their position and thus correct the line up of the operating position of the box unit.

It is among the objects of the present invention to operate said elevator structure so that the elevator structure itself will hold the box in operating position and so that the elevator will directly lower the exhausted box, thus decreasing wear on the pins, enabling simpler alinement adjustment and quicker lowering of the exhausted operating box.

Again, in the embodiment shown in said Patent No. 2,017,065, the indication at said nonchange side of the loom is effective throughout the duration of dwell of the shuttles in the boxes in said non-change side of the loom. This indication energizes the solenoid and causes operation of the control cam follower.

In the present structure, it has been found desirable in certain instances to actuate the indicating mechanism only at the lay front position and when this is done, the solenoid is locked in position so as to assure continued operation of the control cam follower even though the indicator circuit has been broken by the rearward movement of the lay subsequent to the indication.

Other objects will also be obvious during the course of the following description.

The above and other objects will appear more clearly from the following detailed description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the inventive idea.

Referring toV the drawings:

Figures 1 to 6 are diagrammatic views, Figures 1, 3 and 5 representing the side diagrammatic views of the lay and crank and Figures 2, 4, and 6 respectively being plan views of the control cam.

Figures 7, 8 and 9 illustrate the indicating mechanisms at the non-change side of the lay; Figure 'l being a top view, Figure 8 being a side sectional view on the line 8-8 of 'Figure 7, and Figure 9 being a top view in partial section upon enlarged scale showing the cooperation between the feeling fingers and the metal shell on the quill of the shuttle.

Figures 10, 11 and 12 illustrate the details of the cam control mechanism, Figure 10 being a side view, Figure 10a being a detail view of the latch locking means, Figure 11 being a top view from the line lI-II of Figure 10 and Figure 12 being a transverse sectional view upon the line I2-l2 of Figure 10.

Figures 13 to 19 illustrate the change mechanism including the lay and loom structures, the elevator mechanism and the ejecting mechanism; Figure 13 being a front view of the lay end at the change side of the loom; Figure 14 being a side view up'on the line l4-I4 of Figure 13 with the lay in its rearmost position; Figure 15 being an enlarged front view of a part of the lay end upon enlarged scale; Figure 16 being a transverse sectional view of the pin holding means upon the line I6-I6 of Figure 15, Figure 17 being a transverse sectional view upon the line ll--Il of Figure 15, showing the end of the elevator structure and the ejecting plates, and Figures 18 and 19 being respectively side sectional views approximately on the lines |8l8 and ISI-I9 of Figure 15, illustrating steps in the ejection of the exhausted box when the shuttle is lowered.

Figure 20 is a front elevational view of the elevator, and the lower portion of the lay frame Figure 20a is a fragmentary view of the lower Y portion of the central elevator rod when the elevator is in elevated position supporting the lowermost shuttle box unit.

Figure 21 is a transverse sectional view upon the line 2 I-2I of Figure 20 of the central elevator rod construction upon enlarged scale.

Figure 22 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view upon the line 22-22 of Figures 15 and 24, showing the magazine clip construction.

Figure 23 is a transverse sectional view upon the lines 23-23 of Figures 15 and 24 at a lower elevation to Figure 22, also showing the magazine clip construction.

Figure 24 is a fragmentary side sectional view upon the line 24-24 of Figure 22.

Figure 25 is a transverse sectional view upon the line 25-25 of Figure 15 showing the shuttle guide arrangement on the lay.

Figure 26 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view upon the line 26--26 of Figure 15 showing the shuttle guide arrangement on the magazine.

Referring to Figures 1 to 6, there are shown a plurality of multiple shuttle unit carriers or replaceable box structures A, B, C, D and E, each of which contains the shuttles a, b, c, d, and e.

Although these shuttles may be tied together, or connected together by releasable snap fasteners, and then permitted to drop or caused to move into a gated change box or change box with removable horizontal partitions, from which the exhausted shuttle or shuttles have been previously ejected, nevertheless, it has been found most satisfactory to make the units A, to E, as replaceable shuttle boxes.

The units A to E, may be of the type shown and described in connection with Figures 25, 27, to 37, of said Patent No. 2,017,065, in which the shuttle box structures are provided with guide members at their diagonally opposite corners to be received in grooves in the guiding frame structures on both the loom and the lay and which boxes are also provided with swells on the front side thereof, cooperating with suitable dagger safety mechanisms to stop the loom when the shuttles have not been received in the replaceable box unit.

Although the various units B to E, in reserve in respect to the operating unit A, may be carried in different positions upon either the loom or the lay, so that the next unit B may be conveniently moved into operating position to replace the exhausted operating unit A, nevertheless, it has been found most satisfactory to carry the operating unit A and the immediate reserve unit B in a frame F, which frame is most conveniently carried at the change end of the lay G.

The other reserve units C, D and E may be conveniently carried in a frame structure H on the loom I, which lay G, and loom I, together with the frame structures F and H,'respectively, are shown in fuller detail in Figures 13 to 15.

The' lay G, is provided with lay swords J, which are pivotally mounted at K, on a support. The lay G, is reciprocated by the crank connector L, which is driven by the crank M, rotating on the shaft N.

During the portion of movement represented by the arcs O, the operating shuttles a, will be traversing the shed between the replaceable box A, (see also Figures 'l and 8), at the change side of the loom, and the nonchange box P, the change LHLLQ. uur un...

side being adjacent the observer in Figures 1, 3 and 5, and the non-change side being away from the observer in these figures.

Duringthe operation of the shuttles a, from the replaceable unit A, this unit will be held in position in respect to the pickers Q, operated by the picker stick R, (see Figures 13, 14 and 1'1) by the elevator structure S.

The corresponding pickers R', and picker stick Q', at the non-change side of the lay, are shown in Figure 7, and are indicated by the same letters primed.

The elevator S, as indicated diagrammatically in Figures 1, 3 and 5 and in detail in Figures 13 to l5, is operated by a cable or chain connection T, (see Figures 10 to 13 and 15) to a cam follower U cooperating with the control cam V, which follower is shown diagrammatically in Figures 2, 4, and 6, and in detail in Figures 10, 11 and 12.

When the lling in either or both of the operating shuttles A becomes exhausted, an indication will be given at the non-change side of the lay by the feeler mechanism W (see Figures 7 to 9) which will energize the electrical solenoid construction (see Figures 10 to 12), said solenoid controlling the latching arrangement Y (see Figures 10 to 12) to release the follower U to cooperate with the control cam V.

As the follower U passes over the elevated side Z of the control cam V, the shuttles will return during the pick stroke O of Figure 2 into the replaceable carrier unit A. 'I'hen the follower U, will move onto the depressed portion AA of the control cam V, lowering the elevator S to the position shown in Figure 3.

As soon as the elevator S starts to lower it will actuate the lever construction BB, (see Figures 13 and 15) allowing the holder pins or stops CC to move inwardly (see Figure 16 and also Figures 3 and 5) to stop the following reserve box B in operating position. With the next operation of the picker stick R and the pickers Q, the shuttles b will then be thrown across the sheds to the non-change shuttle box P, as indicated in Figures 7 to 9.

The elevator S in its further descending movement, as indicated in Figures 13 and 14, will actuate the lever arrangement DD which will operate the jaw members EE to cause the lowermost reserve box C in the loom structure H to move into the lay structure F.

As the elevator structure S continues its movement, the ejector FF will be actuated (see Figures 5, '18 and 19) to dump the exhausted unit A into an exhausted hopper GG.

The description, so far, has particular reference to the diagrammatic Figures 1 to 6 and with cross reference to the detailed showings of Figures 7 It has been shown how the various structures cooperate with each other to accomplish the simultaneous double change operation which is the primary object of the present invention.

Referring now to Figures 7 to 9 which show the feeler mechanism W'in combination with the non- Change box, it will be noted that the non-change box P is provided with the recesses 20, which are shaped to receive the oblique cross sections 2| of the shuttles a. are received in recesses in the pickers Q', which pickers are provided with slots 24, to receive the upper end of the picker stick R.

Each shuttle is provided with a recess or interior chamber 25 receiving the quill 26 which has a metal shell 21. The quill carries the filling 28.

The spurs 23 of the shuttle' The shell 21 of the quill 26 ts upon the stud 28 which is pivotally mounted at 38 within the shuttle a.

The side of the shuttle is provided with the opening 3| through which project the feeler iingers 32 carried by the box 33 of the feeler mechanism W. The feeler fingers 32 project through the recess 34 (see Figures 7 and 8) in the side of the structure P, and are carried by the flanges 35 upon the upright structure 36.

Each of the fingers 32 connect with a circuit indicated by the leads 31 in Figure 7.

When the lay moves to the lay front position, the fingers 32 will press against the metal shell 21 of the quill 26 through the opening 3| in the side of the shuttle a.

When the filling 28 has been exhausted from one or both of the shuttles a, the circuit will be closed between the fingers 32 through the shell 21.

Although not constituting a part of this invention, it will be noted in Figure 8, when the shuttles a, are driven home, they will press out the blocks 38, which in turn will press out the contact structures 38 connected to the levers 40. The levers 40 control the dagger mechanism, permitting the lay to advance to beating up position, only when the shuttles are home in the boxes at the change or non-change side of the lay.

As indicated at and |52 of Figure 13 and in said Patent No. 2,017,065, the same safety mechanism may be employed at the change side, but it is located at the front of the replaceable unit A.

Instead'- of the feeler mechanism shown in Figures? 8 to 9, of course, it will be possible to utilize the indicating mechanism shown more fully in Figures 6 to 9, of said Patent No. 2,017,065.

The control cam mechanism V, the latching arrangement Y, the solenoid arrangement X, the follower arrangement U, are more fully shown in Figures to l2.

Closure of the circuit 31 through the fingers 32, and the shell 21, in the lay front position when one or both of the shuttles a, are exhausted will result in current momentarily flowing through the coil 4| of the solenoid X. The coil is mounted on the shelf 44 of the sleeve 42. The sleeve 42 is attached by the lock screw 43 to the shaft K of the loom I, so that the entire solenoid structure X will move with the lay.`

Energization of the coil 4| will result in the core 45 being magnetized. The core 45 will draw down the arm 46 of the lever 41. The lever 41 is pivotally mounted at 48 on the arm 49 extending upwardly from the sleeve 42.

The arm 46 of the lever 41 is normally held against too great an elevation by the inverted L-member 50, which extends over the end 5| of said arm 46.

Since the ow of currentis only momentary when the lay is in lay front position, the latch 52 is provided. The latch 52 is pivotally mounted at 53 on the forwardly extending portion 54 of the arm 49 and is biased rearwardly by the coil spring 55.

When the arm 46 is drawn downwardly by the core 45, the shoulder 56 at the lower end of the latch 52 will move onto the top of the end 5| of the arm 46 and hold saidarm down.

The arm 46 will be held down until the lay moves sufficiently to the rear to bring the finger 51 into contact with the arm 58 of the rod 59, which is mounted on the I-beam 60, of the loom I, and which will pull the latch 52 oil' the end 5I of the arm 46 releasing it.

Upon release and during the intervals between the change operations, the heavy end 6| of the lever 41 will move the end 5| against the leg 50.

However, when the solenoid X is energized and the arm 46 is depressed by said energization and held by the latch 52, the tooth 62 at the end of the arm 6| of the lever 41 will be pressed against the tooth 63 on the rod 64.

The rod 64, at its right end 65, is guided between the pins 66 and at its left end, it is pivotally connected at 61 to the ear 68 on the collar 69 on the shaft 10.

The collar 69 is also provided with the ear 1| drawn downwardly by the coil spring 12 attached to the beam 13 of the loom structure I.

The collar 69 also carries the arm 14 having the tooth 15 which normally latches with the tooth 16 on the arm 11 of the follower 18, preventing said follower U from following the contour of the control cam V, in the intervals between change operations.

The follower lever 18 is pivotally mounted upon the shaft 19 on the bracket 80 bolted at 8| to the loom frame, the forwardly extending arm 82 being clevised at 83 to receive the follower roller U.

The other arm 84 of the follower lever 18 carries the adjustable screw stud 85 with the lock nut 86, and a clevis 81 to which at 88 is attached the chain T.

The control cam V is fitted on the shaft 90, to which is connected the large gear 9| which is driven by the pinion 92 from the shaft 93. This will cause the cam to rotate continuously at one half crank shaft speed in the direction 94a indicated by the arrow.

The shaft 90 is supported in the hub 89 carried upon the bracket 90a and is bolted at 95 to the frame member 13 on the loom I.

The control cam V is so driven that at position 96, the lay will be in front position and, if either or both operating shuttles a are exhausted, an indication will be given energizing the solenoid and closing the circuit 31 of Figure 7, said indication continuing throughout the arc 91.

This energization of the solenoid X will cause engagement of the teeth 62 and 63. Then, as the lay shaft K moves in the direction of the arrow 98, the rod 64 will be pressed to the left, disengaging the teeth 15 and 16. This will permit the follower U to follow the contour of the cam V.

55, The pick will start at 99 on the cam V, and

shortly before back center at |00, there will be a slight depression at |0| which will offset the teeth 15, 16 as shown in Figure 10a. This will prevent re-engagement of 15 and 16 during forward movement of the lay, after de-energization of the solenoid X, and release of the latch 52.

At the point |02, the pick will have ended and the shuttles a will be home in the operating unitA to be replaced. At the point |03, the depressed surface 'AA of the cam V, commences and as the follower passes this point the chain T will start lowering the elevator.

Then, as the follower U continues to move over the depressed portion AA of the control cam V, at position |05, the elevator in lowering will have started to actuate the lever arrangement DD, as shown in Figure 15, to insert the jaws EE of Figure 13 and pick up reserve box C. At lay front or front |06, the jaws EE will be fully inserted.

At position |01, the reserve box B will have reached the operating position and the ejection of the lowered exhausted box A will be ejected by the upsetting members FF. At |08, the layv will be moving rearwardly and the reserve box C grasped by the jaws EE, will drop into reserve position in the structure F.

At |09, the pick with the shuttles b, will start and at I0, the transfer will have been completed.

At the lay will be at back center; at |I2, the pick will have been completed; and at ||3 the elevator S will have been moved back to its normal position.

The elevator frame structure which is best shown in Figures 13 to 15, consists of a U- shaped frame F, which is carried at the end of the lay G. The shaft K of the loom carries the sword, as indicated at |30, and has a bearing |3| in the side frame structure |32 of the loom frame I (see Figures 13 and 14).

The end of the shaft K carries the bracket |33 by the collar |34. The bracket |33 has the iianges |35 and |36, which respectively carry the sleeves |31, |38 and |39 and also the ear |40 which affords a bearing I4I for the structure |42, at the lower end of the picker stick R.

'I'he structure |42 also carries the quadrant member |43 to the top of which is connected the strap |44 connected to a suitable mechanism for causing the throw of the picker stick R and the connected pickers Q. The pickers Q in their throw slide on the rods 500 indicated in Figure 17.

As shown in Figure 13, the lay G is provided with the race |45 over which the shuttles are thrown through the shed, the reed |46 beating up the filler after the shuttles have passed across the shed.

The dagger shafts |41, |48 are continuations of the shafts at the other side of the lay and they carry the daggers, as indicated diagrammatically at |49 and are provided with bearings |50.

The control levers |5|, |52, located at the front of the unit A in Figure 13, respectively cooperate with the upper and lower shuttles to indicate when the shuttles have been received home in the operating box A. If both shuttles are not home, the daggers will stop the loom before the lay reaches its front position and thus prevent change of the box A if the exhausted shuttles a, have not both been received home in the operating box A.

Riding inthe tubes |31, |38 and |39 are the guide rods |53, |54 and |55 connectedto the elevator structure S. The elevator structure S is provided with circular hubs or recesses 56, |51, |58 respectively, to receive said rods, as best shown in Figures 13 and 15, and these hubs |56, |51, |56 are connected by the web |59. The upper portion of the elevator is being provided with a platform |60.

The 4end of the elevator is provided with a extension |6| (see Figure 17) which has a projection |62 fitting in the recess |63 in the member |64 connected to the side |65 of the-U-frame member F, both sides of the elevator and U- frame member being provided with similar guiding structures.

The member |64, as shown in Figure 15, is connected by a series of spacer sleeves |66, and screws |61 to the vertical sides |65 of the U- frame member F.

To the sides |65 of the frame are connected the side plates |68 by the bolts |69, the corresponding elements on the right side of the frame structure F being indicated by the same numerals primed.

The plate |68 at its inner end is provided with the groove or recess |18 (see Figures 16 and 17) which acts to receive a corresponding bracket member on the end of the replaceable box structures A, B, C, D and so forth.

The elevator S will normally be held with its platform |68 up against the bottom of the operating box A by means of a chain or non-extensible rope T, which rope at one end is connected by the eyelet |1| to the member |38 and passes over the pulleys |12 and |14 pivotally mounted at |13 and |15 respectively on the frame structure F.

The rope or chain T also passes under the pulley |18 mounted at |11 upon the collar |18 on the shaft K.

As indicated in Figures 11 and 12, the end of the chain T adjacent the cam lever 84 respectively passes under the pulleys |19 and |88, respectively mounted upon the pivots |8| and |82 on the collars |83 and |84.

When the teeth 15 and 16 of the latching arrangement are in engagement as indicated in Figure 10, the platform |68 of the elevator will be drawn up against the stop screws |85 passing through the brackets |86 attached to the frame structure F. The bolts |85 are held in adjusted position by the lock nuts |81.

Each stop screw |85, of course, may be adjusted to regulate the position of the elevator platform |68 to position correctly the operating box A.

At each end of the elevator S is the cam foot or actuator member 281 which actuates the lever arrangements BB and DD.

As shown in Figure 15, the cam member 281 will press the abutment face |88 of the lever BB outwardly to cause the lever BB to move outwardly on its pivot |89.

The slot |98 (see Figure 16) in the side face plate |68 is formed in an enlargement |9| in which is the recess |92 receiving the plunger member |93 having the enlarged head |94 which fits in the enlarged portion |95 oi the recess. The shank |93 ts in the reduced portion |96 of the recess.

The coil spring |91 reacts between the shoulder |98 and the enlarged head |94 and tends i the shoe |88 (see Figure 15) the pin CC will be released. This will occur after the unit A has been lowered away from operating position.

The pin CC will then stop the new operating box B in proper position until the elevator S is raised again through the chain T and until the contact foot 281 aga-in comes in contact with the face |88 and moves the pin CC outwardly from the track |18.

As the elevator is lowered toward the lower portion of the frame F, the contact shoe 281 will contact with the presser face 28| of the lever arrangement DD moving the arm 282 of the bell crank lever 283 upwardly on the pivot |89 (see Figure 15).

UW! vl l This movement will result in elevation of the connecting rod 283a which is pivotally connected at 284 to the arm 282 of the bell crank lever 283 and has a slotted connection at 285 to the arm 286 will normally slide down through the grooves 2|3 on the inside faces of the upright members 2|4 of said magazine H (see Figure 14) and the lowermost unit in this case C will be held in position by the inturned lower ends 2 I5 of the depending members 2|8, whichmembers 2|6 are bolted at 2|1 to the frame H.

Normally, the sides of the lower units will be held in position by the spring clips 2 I8, but these spring clips will be released when the jaws EE are moved inwardly by the contact of the elements 281 of the elevator S and 28|- of the lever arrangement DD, and when the lower magazine unit C is moved rearwardly with the lay.

The structure H is pivotally mounted at 2|9 upon the sleeve element 228. The sleeve 228 is supported by the rod 22| which is pivotally connected to the clevis 222. The sleeve 228 is normally drawn rearwardly by the coil spring 223 with the stop 224 and the adjustable screw 225 limiting the spring action (see Figure 14).

The loom magazine structure H, the slider jaw construction EE, the side plate constructions |68 and the lever constructions BB and DD are all more fully shown and described in said Patent No. 2,017,065.

The shuttles in the units B,.C, D, have their lling tied together, as indicated at bb, cc, and dd, in Figure 13, with the result that as the shuttles are lowered into operating position and' thrown across the shed, their filling will be caught at the adjacent selvage of the fabric being woven.

The ejector mechanism for the unit A, when exhausted, is best shown in Figures 17 to 19.

The platform |68 of the elevator S is provided with the recesses 235 which receive the leaves 238. The rear ends of the leaves 236 are provided with the enlargements 231 which t in the recesses 238 in the rear side of the elevator.

The leavesv 236 are pivotally mounted at 238a on the webs 239 extending below the platform |68.

Extending upwardly from the base 248 of the elevator frame F are the insert members 24| having the upper cam faces 242 adapted to contact with and elevate the ejector leaves FF, when the elevator is lowered to the position of Figure 19.

When the units A are in the position of Figures 18 and 19, they will have been lowered from the tracks or grooves |18 and may be readily dumped olf the elevator structure S, as indicated in Figure 19.

The shuttle box unit A in falling oi the elevator structure will strike the guide plate 244 having the downwardly sloping portion 245 and connected at its rear at 246 to the frame F.

As shown in Figure 14, after the exhausted unit A leaves the plate 245, it will pass into the guide 241, one side of which 248, is bolted at 249 to the element 258 of the loom frame I.

The shuttle box unit A then will fall into the hopper GG consisting of a base plate 25|, the ends of which are provided with sleeves 252 riding upon the rods 253. The rods 253 are supported at 254 upon the ground or floor structure 255.

The coil spring 256 is of the tension variety and normally draws the hopper GG upwardly. As an increasing number of units A to E are dropped into said hopper, the spring 258 will permit the hopper structure GG to be lowered and thus cause increase in its capacity.

The structure of the hopper GG is more fully described in said Patent No. 2,017,065.

In operation, when the shuttles a, still have sufficient filter, the operating units A will be held in position by the platform |60 of the elevator S, said platform |60 being drawn up against the adjustable stop screws |85 by the chain T, by reason of the interlocking teeth 15, 16 (see Figures 10 to 12).

After an indication is received from the indicator mechanism, as indicated in Figures 'l to 9, the teeth 15, 16 will be released. Then at point |03 in Figure 10, the elevator S, due to its weight and the weight of the unit A upon it, will drop with the cam follower U moving in contact with the surface of the control cam V.

Soon after the elevator S starts to lower, the pressure foot 281 willrelease the lever BB and cause the pin CC to move into the track |10 to stop the next unit B and hold it in operating position until the elevator has discharged the exhausted unit A and has been returned by the control cam V through the chain T.

By only utilizing the pin stops or supports CC, during the interval when the elevator S, is lowered out of position the wear on the pins CC is greatly decreased. Moreover, it is possible to adjust the screws |85 to make certain that the operating position of the carrier unit will correctly correspond to the position of the sheds.

As the elevator continues to lower, the lever arrangement DD will be actuated to move the jaws EE inwardly (see Figure 15).

This is timed to occur at substantially lay front position so that the lay in moving rearwardly from said position will carry along lowermost unit C in the magazine frame H, when the spring clips 2| 8 are released.

As a result, the unit B will take the place of the operating unit A, the unit C will take the place of the reserve unit B in the lay frame, while the'unit D will drop to lowermost position in the loom frame and be readyfor the next transfer. y

As the elevator S is lowered to the position of Figures 18 and 19, the exhausted unit A will be ejected from the frame F. Then, the elevator will rise again with its foot 281 readily passing over the foot 20| due to its bevelled corners, without affecting the lowermost magazine box'D, now in position C in the loom frame magazine, in view of the fact that the lay will now be in a rear position.

Then, as the elevator continues to elevate to its normal position, the presser foot 281 will move the contact face |88 of the lever BB outwardly to remove the pins CC from the tracks |10 whereupon the elevator platform |60 will be pulled up directly under the new operating box B, now in position.A, and will hold it in position until it in turn becomes exhausted.

By providing a two pick cam as is disclosed in the present application, the changing operation takes place more speedily and rapidly Without stoppage of the loom and the ejector mechanism, shown in Figures 17 to 19, is effective while the lay is moving rearwardly and it is not necessary for the lay again to move up to a front position before the exhausted shuttle box unit is removed.

The normal dagger safety mechanism may be employed at both the change and non-change are thrown home before the beating up.

In the case of the change side of the loom,.-

unless the shuttles are received home in the operating units A to E respectively, the loom will stop and the replacement cannot take place.

Safety mechanisms may also be provided to make certain that the transfer between the 100m frame H and the lay frame F take place, such a mechanism being shown in said Patent No. 2,017,065, and such safety mechanism may also be connected to the dagger mechanism. An electrical safety mechanism could also be used including a switch connected to the loom stop motion mechanism.

Also the threads from the shuttles in the exhausted unit may be cut by any suitable arrangement, preferably, one such as shown in Patent No. 2,017,065.

The pickers Q-Q are also preferably removed from the spurs 23 of the shuttles a-o before the change, as shown in said Patent No.,2,017,065, and copending application Serial No. 115,462 filed December 12 1936.

It is usually desirable that the follower roller U be permitted to follow the contour of the cam C (see Figures 2, 4, 6 and 10) without movement of the elevator until after the point |03 of the cam as shown in Figure 10, passes the roller U.

To accomplish this, the lower portion of the tube |38 is slotted, as indicated at 3|0 to receive the pin 3| which is fixed in and extends through the lower portion of the rod |54.

The lower end of the rod |54 is threaded, as indicated at 3|2 and is provided with a collar 3|3 which may be fixed in any desired position by the set screw 3H.

As a result of this arrangement, before movement of the elevator S when the change is indicated upon the cam in Figure 10, the center tube |38 must be lowered until it engages the collar 3|3 on the rod |54 with expansion of the spring |54a. Then the elevator will move downwardly together with the rod |54 and tube |38.

'I'his will avoid the possibility of a movement of the elevator S occurring once every two picks when the point |0| of the cam V of Figure 10 is passed by the follower roller U.

Moreover,v adjustment of the collar 3|3 and set screw 3| I enables more accurate timing.

In transferring the shuttles boxes or carriers C, D, and E from the magazines H to the elevator frame G, it has been found most desirable to have an automatic magazine clip release which will be actuated together with the arrangement tending to move the lowermost carrier or box on the magazine H and place it in the lay frame.

This automatically opening clip arrangement is best shown in Figures 22, 23 and 24 and according to the showing of these figures the magazine clip 2|8 includes'a sliding jaw member 2|2, a. fixed jaw member 326 and a pivotally mounted, releasing jaw member 321.

As is indicated best in'Figures 15 and 24, the sliding member 2|2 has a wedge-shaped groove 328 which is received on a correspondingly shaped rail 329 at the top of the side plate |68. The jaw 2|2 has a boss 330 (see Figures 22, 24), to the top of which is screwed the plate 33| by the screws 332.

'I'he plate 33| extends rearwardly and carries the circular enlargement 333. The enlargement 333 will be'm'ov'ed with the jaw 2|2 as shown in Fig. 23, upon rearward movement of the lay,

HlHLL, LIN inu.

the element 333 will contact the finger 334. The finger 334 is carried on a circular member 335 pivotally mounted at 336 between the jaws 331. The member 335 ls held by the circular leaf spring 433, which is riveted at 333 to the swinging 'jaw 321 of the clip 2|8. The curved face of the enlargement 333 rides against said finger 334 as the jaw 321 swings on the pivot 333.

The swinging jaw 321 is in turn pivotally mounted at 338 on the element 339 and is held in position by the spring 340 which reacts at 34| against the pivoted clip 321 and at 342 against the fixed magazine member 326.

The intermediate portion of the spring is coiled at 343 around the pivot pin 333 (see particularly Figure 22) As indicated best in Figure 23, the top of the slot 344 in the lay frame structure F is widened so as more readily to receive the track 345 at the end of the shuttle box carrier C.

By this arrangement, assurance is had that when the jaw 2|2 is moved over by the lever 201 to grasp the lowermost box C on the magazine frame H (see Figure 15) that the rear clip 321 will be moved away by the enlargement 333 without being pushed away by the box C.

As a result, canting of the shuttle box C and possible jamming will be greatly reduced assuring a much more effective and rapid change.

It is also desirable that the shuttles carried in the boxes B to E be prevented from jiggling back and forth and be held in proper position therein so that when the boxes are dropped into operating position, the shuttles will be in proper position for cooperation with the pickers. l

To yaccomplish this, plates 346 and 341 are respectively connected to the lay frame F, as shown in Figure 25, and to the magazine frame H, as shown in Figure 26, which plates are provided with grooves 348 and 349 receiving the spur ends 23 of the shuttles.

The plate 346 is connected by the angle member 350 to the plate |68 of the elevator frame while the guide 341 is connected to the spacer member 35| of the magazine frame H.

This will assure accurate alignment of the shuttles and more accurate positioning of the shuttles when they are moved in operating position.

To assure adjustability of the operating connection, for the jaw 2 I2, the rod 2030. is permitted to slide through the nut 352 which has a slotted and pivoted connection 353 to the lever 206.

The upper end of the rod 203 is threaded, as indicated at 354 and receives the nut 355 and the lower portion of the rod 203a is provided with a collar 356.

Between the collar 356 and the pivoted member 352 is positioned a take up spring 351.

It is to be understood, however, that all these variations and alterations as well as any other changes or modifications within the scope of the invention are all to be included herein and the invention is not to be limited to the speciiic embodiment above illustratively set forth.

What is claimed is:

1. In an automatic shuttle box changing loom of the type having a lay reciprocating between a front position and a rear position, operating and reserve shuttles, a shed, an indicating box and a plurality of replaceable changing boxes, said indicating box and one of said replaceable boxes being on opposite sides of the lay to receive the shuttles, pickers to throw said operating shuttles from the indicating box to said one of the changing boxes through and across the shed as the lay reciprocates between successive iront positions, an electrical circuit, contact means to close said circuit when the iiller carried by said operating shuttles is almost exhausted, reserve shuttles being held in replaceable boxes above the changing box receiving the operating shuttle and the lowermost replaceable box serving to replace said changing box receiving the operating shuttle when the filler on the operating shuttle is almost exhausted; the combination therewith of means to replace said operating shuttle box by a reserve shuttle box actuated when said.circuit is closed by said contact means to cause the operating shuttle box to move out of operating position when the operating shuttles are in the changing box from the indicating box, and to cause a reserve shuttle box to move into operating position in the interval between the time the exhausted operating shuttles are received in the changing box and the reserve shuttles are thrown from the new operating shuttle box to indicating box and acontrol device to complete said change and restore said last mentioned means to initial position by the time when said new operating shuttle is thrown back to and received in the new orating changing box.

2. In the loom of claim 1, said last mentioned means including an elevator to support the operating shuttle box at the changing side of the lay and to lower the exhausted shuttle box upon changing.

3. In the loom of claim 1, said last mentioned means including an elevator to support the operating shuttle box at the changing side of the lay and to lower the exhausted shuttle box upon changing and means to support the new operating shuttle box when the elevator is lowering the exhausted operating shuttle box.

4. In the loom of claim 1, said last mentioned means including an elevator to support the operating shuttle box at the changing side of the lay and to lower the exhausted shuttle box upon changing and an adjustable stop to x the position of the elevator when supporting the operating shuttle box.

5. In the loom of claim l, said last mentioned means including an elevator to support theoperating shuttle box at the changing side of the lay and to lower the exhausted shuttle box upon changing and means to lower said elevator to remove the exhausted shuttle box and to elevate it after removal of the exhausted shuttle box from the elevator during the interval of two cornplete reciprocations of the lay.

6. In the loom of claim l, said last mentioned means including an elevator to support the operating shuttle box at the changing side of the lay and to lower the exhausted shuttle box upon changing and a cam and follower to lower said elevator to remove the exhausted shuttle box from the elevator.

7. In the loom of claim 1, said last mentioned means including an elevator to support the operating shuttle box at the changing side of the lay and to lower the exhausted shuttle box upon changing, a cam and follower to lower said elevator to remove the exhausted shuttle box and to elevate it after removal of the exhausted shuttle box from the elevator, latch means to latch said follower between changes, a solenoid provided with an armature to control said latch means, said solenoid being energized by said circuit when the lay is in front position and the operating shuttle is in almost exhausted condition in the indicating box and means to lock the amature in energized position as the lay moves from front to rear position after the circuit has been opened by the contact means.

8. Inthe loom of claim 1, said last mentioned means including an elevator to support the operating shuttle box at the changing side of the lay and to lower the exhausted shuttle box upon changing, a cam and follower to lower said elevator to remove the exhausted shuttle box and to elevate it after removal of the exhausted shuttle box from the elevator, means to latch said follower from following said cam between changes, and means to prevent vibrations of said follower being communicated to said elevator between changes.

9. In the loom of claim 1, said last mentioned means including an elevator to support the operating shuttle at the changing side of the lay and to lower the exhausted shuttle box upon changing, a cam and follower to lower said elevator to remove the exhausted shuttle box and to elevate it aft-er removal of the exhausted shuttle box from the elevator, means to latch said follower from following said cam between changes, and means to prevent vibrations of said follower being communicated to said elevator between changes including a lost motion connection between the follower and the elevator.

10. In the loom of claim 1, said last mentioned means including an elevator to support the operating shuttle box at the changing side of the lay and to lower the exhausted shuttle box upon changing, a cam and follower to lower said elevator to remove the exhausted shuttle box and to elevate it after removal of the exhausted shuttle box from the elevator, means to latch said follower from following said cam between changes, and means to prevent vibrations of said follower being communicated to said elevator between changes, said means including a chain actuated by said follower, vertical elements having a spring connection, one element being connected to the elevator and the other to said chain, said spring connection being substantially contracted when said elevator is in operating position between changes and said spring connection being uncontracted and permitting simultaneous movement of said elements upon substantial movement of said follower.

1l. In the loom of claim 1, said last mentioned means including an elevator to support the operating shuttle box at the changing side of the lay and to lower the exhausted shuttle box upon changing, a cam and follower to lower said elevator to remove the exhausted shuttle box and to elevate it after removal of the exhausted shuttle box from the elevator, means to latch said follower from following said cam between changes, and means to prevent vibrations of said follower being communicated to said elevator between changes, said means including a reciprocable rod extending downwardly from said elevator, a coil spring encircling said rod, a reciprocable tube encircling said rod and coil spring, said rod extending below said tube and having a collar at its lower end to contact with the lower end of the tube when said tube and rod move together to move said elevator, said spring reacting at its upper end against said elevator and at its lower end against said tube, said follower actuating said tube.

12. In the looom of claim l, said last mentioned means including an elevator to support the operating shuttle box at the changing side of the lay and to lower the exhausted shuttle box upon changing, said elevator having means to dump said exhausted shuttle box when in lowermost-- position.

13. In the loom of claim 1, said last mentioned means including an elevator to support the operating shuttle box at the changing side of the lay and to lower the exhausted shuttle box upon changing, said elevator having means to dump said exhausted shuttle box when in lowermost position, said last mentioned means including lift plates pivotally mounted at the front of the elevator and means for elevating the rear ends of said plates when the elevator is in lowermost position.

14. In the loom of claim 1, said last mentioned means including an elevator to support the operating shuttle box at the changing side of the lay and to lower the exhausted shuttle box upon changing and means to support the new operating shuttle box when the elevator is lowering the exhausted operating shuttle box, said last mentioned means including reciprocable pins, said pins being withdrawn by said elevator when in uppermost position.

15. In the loom of claim 1, said last mentioned means including a guide frame on the loom and a guide frame on the changing side of the lay and parallel guide tracks in said frames for the boxes and the shuttles.

16. In the loom of claim 1, said last mentioned means including a guide frame on the loom and a guide frame on the changing side of the lay, and means to transfer shuttle boxes from the loom frame to lay frame, said last mentioned means comprising a spring biased clip to hold the shuttle in the loom frame and a release element on said lay frame to open said clip upon said transfer.

1'7. In the loom of claim 1, said last mentioned means including a guide frame on the loom and a guide frame on the changing side of the lay, and means to transfer shuttle boxes from the loom frame to lay frame, said last mentioned means comprising a spring biased clip to hold the shuttle in the loom frame and a cam to release said clip carried by the lay frame.

18. The loom of claim 1 in which the loom is a double shuttle loom and the reserve shuttles are carried in said reserve boxes in pairs with the ends of the filling tied together so that it will be caught at the selvage edge when the pairs of reserve shuttles are moved into operating position.

19. The loom of claim 1 in which the loom is a double shuttle loom and the reserve shuttels are carried in pairs in said reserve boxes, said reserve shuttle boxes resting on top of the operating shuttle box and falling into operating position when the operating shuttle box is removed.

20. The loom of claim l in which the loom is a double shuttle loom and the reserve shuttles are carried in pairs in said reserve boxes, said shuttle boxes being moved into and out of operating positiondownwardly and in a direction toward the swinging axis of the lay.

2l. In the loom of claim l, said last mentioned means including an elevator to support the operating shuttle box at the charging side of the lay and to lower the exhausted shuttle box upon changing and means to support the new operating shuttle box when the elevator is lowering the exhausted operating shuttle box, said last mentioned means being effective only during the interval between when the replacement reserve far;

er1.A

shuttles are received in operating position and moving into the indicating box.

22. In the loom of claim 1, said last mentioned means including an elevator to support the operating shuttle box at the changing side of the lay and to lower the exhausted shuttle box upon changing, said elevator being lowered only during the intervalthat the replacement reserve shuttles are received in operating position and are passing across the shed to be received in the indicating box.

23. In the loom of claim l, said last mentioned means including a guide frame on the loom and a. guide frame on the changing side of the lay, and tracks on the sides of said frames to guide the movement of said carriers, said tracks being substantially vertically aligned at lay front position and the tracks on the lay frame having means to provide clearance when the lay moves forward beyond the point at which the tracks are aligned.

24. In the loom of claim 1, said last mentioned means including a guide frame on the loom and a guide frame on the changing side of the lay, said changing boxes having projections at the sides thereof and the sides of said frames having grooves to receive said projections, the grooves of said frames being substantially aligned at lay front position and upper ends of the grooves on the lay frame being enlarged.

25. In an automatic shuttle box changing loom, each box carrying two shuttles, an operating shuttle bo'x, a pivotally mounted swinging lay carrying said operating shuttle box and means at one end of said lay to change said operating shuttle box, said means including a lay end frame structure, an elevator to support the operating shuttle box at said end of said lay during the operation of the latter and to lower the operating shuttle box in the frame structure toward the pivotal mount of the lay, an actuator to raise and lower the elevator and means to limit and stop the raising movement of the elevator.

26. The loom of claim 25, said last mentioned means being adjustable.

27. The loom' of claim 25, said last mentioned A means consisting of adjustable stop screws lo- Y cated at each side of the frame structure.

28. In an automatic shuttle box changing loom, each box carrying two shuttles, an operating shuttle box, a pivotally mounted swinging lay carrying said operating shuttle box and means at one end of said lay to change said operating shuttle box, said means including a lay end frame structure, an elevator to support the operating shuttle box at said end of said lay and to lower the operating shuttle box in the frame structure toward the pivotal mount of the lay, an actuator to raise and lower the elevator, said elevator being provided with concentrically arranged elevating elements extending through a structure forming part of the lay structure below the elevator and a coil spring connection between said elements, one of said elements being connected to said elevator and the other element being connected to said actuator, said coil spring forming a lost motion connection between said elements.

29. In an automatic shuttle box changing loom, each box carrying two shuttles, an operating shuttle box, a pivotally mounted swinging lay carrying said operating shuttle box and means at one end of said lay to change said operating shuttle box, said means including a lay end frame structure, an yelevator to support the operating shuttle box at said end of said lay and to lower the operating shuttle box in the frame structure toward the pivotal mount of the lay, an actuator to raise and lower the elevator and a loom frame to hold reserve shuttle boxes, said loom frame having clips to hold said reserve shuttle boxes and said lay frame having a. cam to release said clips.

HENRY DOWNER JOHNSON, JR. WOODRUFF T. SULLIVAN.

CII H04 

